Cigar lighter



c. S PITZER CIGAR LIGHTER June 3, 1930.-

Filed Oct. 1'7. 1927 w ww nm n H nun mm 3mm n vaz'jep r I I am Patented June 3, 1930 v UNITED STATES,

CHARLES SPITZER, OF WARREN SBURG, ILLINOIS CIGAR nienrnn Application filed October 17, 192%. Serial No. 226,671.

The invention relates to cigar lighters and has for its object to provide a device of this character comprising a supported contact plate, against which the wick end of a fuel receptacle normally engages and to hingedly mount said fuel receptacle at its outer lower end, and to provide a spring cooperating with the outer side of said receptacle and forming means for normally forcing the receptacle towards the supported contact plate, said hinging to one side of the receptacle forming means whereby upon breaking of the spring said receptacle will move by gravity to engaging relation with the contact plate, thereby allowing the continued use of the device.

A further object is to provide the lower end of the receptacle with a contact arm extend- 4 ing through an aperture in the casing and p0- sitioned whereby upon rocking of the receptacle outwardly, said contact member will engage a leaf spring supported contact member for closing a circuit and causing a wick to be ignited in the upper end of the receptacle through a jump spark..

A further object is to form the supported contact plates relatively wide whereby a large sparking surface is provided and at the same time a surface which will cover the entire end of the bevelled wick carrying tube,

thereby insuring the smothering'of the flame when the receptacle moves to inoperative po-. sition and a closure for the tube for preventing evaporation of the gasoline within the receptacle. 7

With the above and other objects in View the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cigar lighter, part of the casing being broken away to show the ignition coil therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view through the upper end of the lighting device.

Referrin to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the bodyof the casing, which body is provided witha top 2, preferably formed fromin'sulating material, for instance wood. Extending upwardly from the upper side of the top 2-is a tubular member 3, on theupper end of whic'lrissecured by means of a screw 4, a contact plate 5, which contact plate inclines Figure 3 is a top plan view ofthe lighting upwardly and forwardly at an angle corresponding to the angle of the upper end'of the wick tube'6, which wick tube is carried by the cap 7 of thefuelreceptacle 8. The contact plate '5iswider than the wick tube 6", therefore forms a closure for the upper end of the tube when the receptacle is in inoperative position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, consequently gasoline or other fuel within the receptacle 8 will'not easily or quickly evap'o-" rate, therefore the amount of fuel necessary to maintainthe device in operation is reduced to a minimum. By having the plate 5 relatively wide so that it will cover the upper end of the wick 9, consequently-when the receptacle moves to inoperative position will smother the entire flame on the upper end of the wick.

Securedto the upper side of the top 2 by means of a screw 10 is a hinged leaf 11, to which' is hingedly connected at 1-2 the receptacle- '8 and mounted on the upper side of the hinge '11 and held by the screw 10 is a leafsprlng 13, which leaf spring engages the outer side of the receptacle 8 and forms means for forcing the same inwardly to the posltion shown in Figure 2 after a lighting operation.

It will be noted that the hinging point 12 of the receptacle 8-is to the outer side thereof, consequently, if for any reason the spring 13 should break, the receptacle would move to inoperative position upon release of the handle member 14 by gravity, as it is hlnged to one side, therefor in case of spring breakr. age the device would continue in operat on, and as the spring is a simple leaf spring within easy reach, it is obvious the spring can be easily replaced and by an unskilled person if desired, however at no time Wlll it be necessary for the lighter to be removed from the counter upon breaking of the spring.

Extending downwardly from the under side of the receptacle 8 and through an opening 15 in the top 2 is a conductor arm 16, which conductor arm, upon outward tilting of the receptacle 8 engages a contact member 17 supported by a leaf spring 18, thereby closinga circuit over the wires19, 20, and 21, through the spark or ignition coil 22 and battery 23, the wire 21 being connected to the screw 1 and the wire to the screw 10, therefore it will be seen that a circuit will be completed through the receptacle 8, wick tube 6, over a gap between the wick tube and the plate 5, and thence over the wire' 21. By providing the ignition coil 20, it is obvious that a relatively long jump spark is provided between the wick'spout and the plate 5, thereby insuring a positive lighting of the wick. When the handle member 14 is released,

I spring 13 forces said'receptacle to closed position and during the hinging of the receptacle the conductor arm 16 will move out of I yengagement with the conductor member 17.

- From the above it will be seen that a cigar lighter is provided which is simple in its construction, positive in its operation, and one which may be cheaply manufactured and sold, and one wherein the minimum amount of parts are used, thereby insuring a positive operation at all times.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

A cigar lighter comprising a base, a stationary arm extending upwardly from said base, an inclined contact plate carried by said arm, a hinged leaf secured to the base,-said leaf-being hingedly connected to" the lower outer side'of a fuel receptacle, a leaf spring carried'by the hinged leaf: and engaging the outer side of said receptacle above the hinging point, a leaf spring-carried contact beneath the base, a contact arm carried by the lower end of the fuel receptacle and-extending through an; aperture in the base and positioned whereby upon-outward tilting of the fuel receptacle it willvengage. the leaf springcarried contact beneath the base, said armhaving its lowerend curved, thereby forming a cam engaging surface for the contact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my CHARLES 'SPITZER.

signature. 

